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Gila Pirzad Jahromi *1 
, Masoud Afshari2 , Mehrdad Roghani3 , Shahriar Gharibzadeh2 , Akbar Ghorbani Alvanegh4
, Masoud Afshari2 , Mehrdad Roghani3 , Shahriar Gharibzadeh2 , Akbar Ghorbani Alvanegh4
1- Neuroscience Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
2- Institute for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.
3- Neurophysiology Research Center, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran.
4- Human Genetics Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
2- Institute for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.
3- Neurophysiology Research Center, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran.
4- Human Genetics Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract:
Early life stress, such as maternal separation (MS), can lead to serious mental health problems such as depressive-like behavior later in life. Intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) is a transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) protocol. In this study, we sought to determine the effectiveness of iTBS protocol on depressive-like behavior and cognitive impairment induced by MS in male rats because the therapeutic effect of this protocol on this model remains unknown.
To induce depression, we used the MS method from postnatal day (PND) 2 until PND 20 for 4 hours each day. At PND 30, the iTBS treatment began and continued for 10 consecutive days. At PND 40, behavioral tests (Barnes maze, open field test, elevated plus maze and forced swim test) were conducted, and the rats were sacrificed on day 50, with brain tissue removed for biochemical analysis (oxidative stress, TNFα, BDNF and BACE1).
The results showed that iTBS significantly improved spatial memory impaired by MS in the Barnes maze and significantly reduced anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus maze and depressive-like behavior in the forced swim test. Biochemical analysis showed that iTBS significantly reduced oxidative stress (SOD, ROS, MDA, CAT, and GSH), inflammation (TNFα) and BACE1, and increased BDNF in the hippocampus.
Taken together, our study suggests that the iTBS protocol may have therapeutic effects on depressive-like behavior and cognitive impairment induced by MS.
To induce depression, we used the MS method from postnatal day (PND) 2 until PND 20 for 4 hours each day. At PND 30, the iTBS treatment began and continued for 10 consecutive days. At PND 40, behavioral tests (Barnes maze, open field test, elevated plus maze and forced swim test) were conducted, and the rats were sacrificed on day 50, with brain tissue removed for biochemical analysis (oxidative stress, TNFα, BDNF and BACE1).
The results showed that iTBS significantly improved spatial memory impaired by MS in the Barnes maze and significantly reduced anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus maze and depressive-like behavior in the forced swim test. Biochemical analysis showed that iTBS significantly reduced oxidative stress (SOD, ROS, MDA, CAT, and GSH), inflammation (TNFα) and BACE1, and increased BDNF in the hippocampus.
Taken together, our study suggests that the iTBS protocol may have therapeutic effects on depressive-like behavior and cognitive impairment induced by MS.
Type of Study: Original |
Subject:
Behavioral Neuroscience
Received: 2025/10/26 | Accepted: 2025/12/16
Received: 2025/10/26 | Accepted: 2025/12/16
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